Chapter 19 (Patreon)

It was late in the evening when Chad, Anna and Pam finally returned home. Victoria had gotten in before the three of them and started to grow concerned when Pam didn't respond to her calls. She grew more alarmed when she finally received a return call from Anna explaining what was happening. Despite her step-sister’s assurances that things were fine, Victoria still felt almost sick to her stomach with worry. She practically jumped out of her seat when they finally walked through the door. Bram, who had been sitting on the arm of the couch, was knocked down onto the cushion.

"There you four are!" Victoria exclaimed, rushing around the couch to greet them, "Where's dad? Is he okay?"

Anna took a small step back from Victoria and fished Chad out of her pocket, "He's fine, Victoria, but he stinks. The little pervert was creeping around the locker rooms trying to get an up-close look at the women at the gym. He needs a bath, but there's no real damage."

"That's not what I was doing!" Chad snapped, exhausted and agitated after his long and strenuous day, "I only left the pen to try to find Jeremy!"

"Sure, and the fact that you two were in the locker room was just a huge coincidence." Anna scoffed, clearly not buying his story. "I'm gonna go wash bug-man off, get him clean, and bring him back down. Mom can fill you in on all the other details, and pervy here can tell you his story when we get back."

"Anna, I don't think that he's lying," Victoria said, earning a skeptical look from her step-sister, "Dad isn't the type to do something like that."

"All men are exactly the type to do something that stupid." Anna said nonchalantly and definitively, "Believe what you want, but he's no different than any other douchebag out there."

"Anna!" Pam said sternly, "I don't appreciate your attitude, and we have no reason not to believe Chad. Get him cleaned up, but I want you both back down here in fifteen minutes. Do not make me come and get you! After the day I've had and you hiding what was going on, I am out of patience, young lady. Do I make myself clear?"

Anna visibly shrank at her mother's biting and almost scathing tone. Chad couldn't recall ever hearing Pam speak to Anna, or anyone, in that way. Some part of him was glad to see Anna get in trouble for once, but his paternal side wanted to speak up for her. Deciding that it would be better to talk to Pam later, he kept silent. "Yes, ma'am." Anna replied, bowing her head slightly in embarrassment.

Victoria stepped aside to let Anna pass. She looked over at Pam, who sighed as she removed her coat, "Honestly, Victoria, I'm not sure what to believe anymore. I don't think your father was doing what Anna says he was, but this day has me completely frazzled. I could use a drink."

"I've got some vodka in the freezer." Victoria offered, gesturing to the kitchen, "Maybe one drink together while you tell me what happened?"

"That would be wonderful." Pam said with a genuine smile, "In fact, that might be the best idea I've heard today. Anna can sit with us and tell her side of the story once she gets back. Where is your brother?"

"Hmm?" Victoria asked before her face went pale, and she sped over to the couch, "Shit, Bram!"

"Down here!" he yelled from the cushion, and thankfully his sister heard him, "I'm okay. The cushion broke my fall!"

"Sorry, little brother." Victoria said as she reached down to scoop him up. "Here, I thought we'd go a full evening without me losing you."

"Don't sweat it." he said once he was in front of her face, "What's going on with Anna and dad?"

"I'll explain at the table." Pam said with a sigh, walking towards the dining room.

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Chad found himself encased in crushing darkness when Anna rounded the corner from the living room. Anna coiled her fingers around him and began applying a careful amount of pressure. She squeezed his little body tightly, but not so much that she'd hurt him more than he already was. Even so, he could sense the message she was desperately trying to convey. Anna was frustrated with him, the day's events, and her mother's disapproval. Unfortunately, all of that frustration would end up directed at him. In her eyes, he was the sole source of the day's catastrophic turn. What was worse, though, was that he knew Anna wouldn't be bothered to listen to anything he had to say.

Chad heard the sound of the door closing before he was blinded by the fluorescent lights of the bathroom. Anna's eyes were colder than he had ever seen them, and Chad felt a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. She didn't say a word as she turned the faucet on and glared at the stream of water. "Anna…." Chad began, already wondering if there was a point in even trying to speak to her, "I get that you're mad, and I can understand why you-"

"You don't understand shit!" Anna snapped, clenching her fist and squeezing him tighter than she intended, "I trusted you, you miserable little insect, and you lied to me! Parading around the gym, risking my mom's job, making me crawl around looking for your dumbass, and for what?! All because you wanted to get a closer look at other women!"

"Anna, it's not like that!" Chad argued, trying to appeal to whatever was left of the bond they'd begun building, "I have never lied to you, and I only left the pen to chase after a scared kid who got swept up! You talked to Kevin, so I know he told you the same thing!"

Before Chad could continue, Anna shot her hand out and submerged his face in the water. She held him there for a minute, but the pressure and lack of air made it feel much longer. Thrashing, gargling, and struggling within Anna's grip did nothing against the torrent of water.

She pulled him away, and he coughed and gasped for air. "Listen here, you little runt," Anna said, glaring daggers at him as she spoke, "Your little friend might have the same story, but I'm not buying it. You're a greasy, sweaty, and perverted little mess. So help me, I am going to teach you what happens when you screw with my mom and me. If you think I've been hard on you before, just wait until we're alone."

Anna paused to dunk him back in the water. She began scrubbing him vigorously and roughly with her fingers. Chad heard something pop from the force she was using, but he couldn't tell if something was broken.

"As far as I'm concerned, you're just a liar and a cheat," she hissed, "A lowly little worm that's just trying to get his worthless rocks off! I don't know what mom sees in you, but you're lucky she cares about you. That's the only thing that is saving you from me wasting your sorry ass, bug-boy. You had better be kissing the ground she walks on because if it weren't for her, you'd be dead. You breathe a word about this to anyone, and you'll find yourself in a world of hurt. Maybe you end up having an accident after getting misplaced due to your own stupidity. Do.. I.. make.. myself.. clear?"

Chad had heard roughly half of Anna's rant. However, he'd heard the last bit perfectly. He was almost overwhelmed by Anna's brutal bathing, the water pounding his senses, and her scathing tone. She pulled him out of the water and up to her face. He coughed, sputtered, and gasped while trying to catch his breath. He could feel Anna staring down at him expectantly, but he needed a moment to collect himself. "I…" he started before launching into another coughing fit.

"Answer me, you stupid little bug!" Anna snapped her patience and sympathy all but gone in the wake of her anger.

"I understand!" Chad yelled, catching his breath, "I haven't said a word to anyone outside of warning Bram not to irritate you. I'm not going to say anything now, Anna."

"What did you tell him?" Anna asked, not liking the idea of anyone knowing what she did when they were alone.

"Just that he needs to be careful." Chad replied, standing on shaky legs, "He..he asked me if I was okay one day, and I told him that he didn't need to worry about me. He's a smart kid, though, Anna. I told him that he didn't need to worry and that the last thing he needed to do was say anything to anyone. He's left it alone since then, I swear."

"How someone as good as him could come from someone like you is beyond me," Anna scoffed, "Let's get going before someone comes looking for us."

Anna grabbed a rag to dry Chad off with; she was somehow even rougher with it than she'd been washing him. She was done within seconds, thankfully, and she took a moment to compose herself before they left the bathroom.

The two found Pam and the others at the dining room table talking. A bottle of vodka sat at the center, and a glass sat in front of Pam and Victoria. Anna gently sat Chad down beside Pam, and she took a seat close to her mother. Chad felt a little nervous when he saw the bottle, but it was clear that Pam wasn't drinking heavily by the way she spoke. She was simply exhausted and stressed. Chad couldn't help but blame himself for it. Even if Anna was wrong about his motives, he felt the weight of failure in the face of her despair.

They all sat around the table for over an hour talking. Chad told his side of the story and the events that led up to his eventual discovery. It took time before the tension permeating the air began to dissipate, but eventually, everyone began to relax. Victoria and Bram both had questions for their father and shared their day's events to compare. Anna kept quiet and to herself, only speaking whenever someone spoke to her. Chad knew that it was partly due to her irritation with him, but he'd given his word to remain silent on the matter. However, her mood wasn't lost on her mother. Pam didn't comment on it, but she knew her well enough to know Anna was upset. She'd speak to her later, perhaps tomorrow, about everything that had happened. Tonight, she and everyone needed to rest after an extremely trying day.

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The week that followed was hectic and stressful for both Pam and Chad. The night after the incident, Chad had stayed up talking with Pam for another two hours before finally falling asleep together. He'd done his best to assure Pam that he was fine, that Anna was right in being upset, and that circumstances had simply not been in their favor that day. Pam wanted to believe him, but she'd remained adamant that he and Anna weren't to be alone until she saw they were okay. His assurances didn't matter, not in the wake of her concerns, but he understood. It was clear that Pam suspected something was amiss between the two of them. Still, Chad kept his peace and word regarding any events that transpired between himself and Anna.

Chad hadn't been present for the discussion between Pam and Anna, but their time together had been limited unless someone else was present. The brief moments they were alone were tense, and Chad could sense that Anna was still quite upset with him. The more days ticked by, the more dread Chad felt in his stomach. He knew that the time would eventually come when they would have to be left alone together. The time he'd spent with her had given him insight into a few things about his stepdaughter. The most notable was her inability to let things go. Anna would undoubtedly continue to stew over things, and her wrath would only intensify as time went on.

Two weeks and four days had passed since that fateful day at the gym. Life had slowly started to return to normalcy, or as close as it could be during the pandemic. Pam had returned to work, Victoria continued balancing her studies and managing Cups, and Rose had returned to looking after Chad and Bram. Bram was nearly ready to begin the D&D campaign he'd been working with Victoria on. Almost everyone had their characters finished, and all that remained was a few last-minute details and selecting a night to play. Chad was still unsure about it, but Bram's excitement was admittedly infectious. However, Anna's threatening promise still weighed heavily in the back of his mind. The longer he waited, the more fearful Chad became.

Unbeknownst to anyone, the day finally arrived when Anna was presented with the opportunity she'd been patiently waiting for. It was a Friday evening when it happened, and Chad just knew that his night was going to take a nasty turn. Anna had been cordial, kind, and above upstanding towards him around Pam, Victoria, and Rose over the last week. She'd even managed to save him from getting sat on at one point, something Chad was grateful for. She remained vigilant compared to the others, but Chad knew that there was always an ulterior motive with Anna. The moment he'd been dreadfully anticipating had finally arrived. Chad steeled himself for whatever was to come, and he tried to work out a way to convince Anna that he was telling the truth.

Chad was sitting on the dining room table while Pam looked over some spreadsheets for work. He had a bad feeling in his gut the second Anna stepped into the room. "Hey, mom," she began, appearing sincere and gentle as she approached, "I'm having a hard time with my algebra homework, and I was wondering if Chad could help me."

"It's Friday, Anna." Pam replied without looking up, "Your homework can wait until I'm finished. I can help you with it tomorrow."

"Mom, I just want to go ahead and get it done," Anna said, "We've got winter break coming up, and I want to make sure I get a good grade on my tests. Chad manages his own business, so I know he's good at math."

"Anna, I don't think it's a good idea," Pam said, shooting her a pointed look, "Just ask Jessica for help when she comes over. Isn't that why she's coming by?"

"Jessica is coming so that I can help her." Anna answered, putting a hand on her hip, "I'm not gonna hurt him or anything. I just want his help."

"I must be out of my mind," Chad thought as he stood up and spoke, "It's fine, Pam. She's worried about her grades and staying on the volleyball team. If she needs help, then I don't mind helping her. I trust her."

"Chad, are you sure?" Pam asked, "I know my daughter, and I know she's still upset about everything that happened at the gym."

"I'm over that." Anna lied, fooling neither of them.

"I'm sure." Chad said, resigning himself entirely to his fate, "Even if she's still upset, the two of us can't move forward unless we spend time together. I'll be fine, and if her friend is coming over, that'll be one more person to make sure that I'm okay."

"Or one more person to hurt you." Pam said, earning a hurt look from Anna.

"Pam, Anna has been the most observant out of anyone in the house." Chad said, "I love you, but Anna has consistently kept up with my whereabouts whenever she's been around. It might come as a shock, but I trust her. Let me help her, and trust your daughter to do the right thing."

"Chad…." Pam said before sighing and looking at Anna, "It's not that I don't trust you. It's that I know you still think he's lying. I'm going to let you take him, but do not make me regret this, Anna. I want you two to get along, and I want you to know that I'm only allowing this because Chad trusts you. I want both of you out here for dinner when it's done. Do you understand me?"

"Of course, mom," Anna said sweetly, lowering her hand for Chad to climb aboard, "I've got him, and we'll be here for dinner safe and sound."

"I'm trusting you, Anna." Pam said, going against her better judgment, "Take care of him, okay?"

Anna nodded before turning to walk off to her room with Chad in hand. Chad felt a growing sense of anxiety as the door closed. Anna carried him over to her bed, stepping over some of her discarded clothes, bras and underwear that had been piling up. "Alright, what's your angle, little man?" she asked, her tone and demeanor shifting back to her usual distrust and disdain, "Are you hoping that I'll go easy on you because you stuck up for me?"

Of course, she thought he was trying something, but maybe in a way, he had been. Chad sighed, "There's no angle, Anna. I was just being honest with your mother. I meant what I said about us moving forward, and I know that's not going to happen until we spend time together, and you believe me."

"You still expect me to believe your stupid little story?" Anna asked, rolling her eyes, "You're committed, I'll give you that, but honesty is more likely to spare you more punishment."

"Anna, I haven't been lying!" Chad yelled, flustered at her continued skepticism.

"Keep saying it, and maybe you'll believe it yourself," Anna scoffed at him.

"Fine," Chad sighed, giving up on appealing to her sense of reason, "If that's what you want to believe, then far be it from me to stop you. Let's just get this over with."

"Not buying the homework story, eh?" Anna asked.

"You're a smart girl." Chad replied, "I doubt you'd actually need help with your studies. Although, I'd be willing to help if you ever did."

Anna rolled her eyes, and her hand shot out to snatch him roughly. She curled her fingers around his body and brought him up to her face, "I don't need anything from someone like you, bug-boy. Jessica is supposed to be here in an hour, so we've got some time to kill. Do you want to guess what I'm thinking, or are you too stupid to do that?"

"Do you actually care?" Chad countered, "What's it matter if I guess right? It's not going to stop you!"

"I don't much care for your tone, little man," Anna said threateningly, "But I guess you're right. It doesn't matter what you say, and there's nothing you can do to stop me. I guess I'll just have to be a surprise for you."

With her thumb, Anna pushed his head down into the darkness of her palm. Entombed in the palm of her hand, Chad was left to wonder what she was planning. He could feel her moving around, but he didn't have a clue what she was doing. He didn't have to wait long, though, and his heart sank when Anna opened her hand. An all too familiar sight stood before him, and Chad knew what was about to happen. Anna had taken her shoes off, placed her legs on the bed, and was letting her feet breathe. He wasn't surprised, but he was far from thrilled at what was about to happen. So much for progress in the way of father-daughter bonding.

"Still feel like copping an attitude with me, bug-boy?" Anna asked, her tone smug and triumphant, "Go ahead, say something smart-ass. Wouldn't you know I forgot to put on socks this morning? Can you believe how forgetful I can be sometimes? My feet have been soaking all damn day, but thankfully, I've got a handy and absorbent little step-dad willing to help me out."

Chad struggled in Anna's grasp as he yelled, "You planned this!"

"Duh!" Anna said with a sadistic chuckle, "Here's what's going to happen, little man. You're going to clean my feet and do something useful for once in your life. You better keep your mouth open too. I want you to taste every inch of my feet, and I want you to remember the feeling that comes with it. This is what happens when you cross me, you little worm. Feel free to struggle. We've got about an hour before Jessica gets here."

Chad thrashed as hard as he could in Anna's hand, but he couldn't break free. Even as Anna shifted him in her hand, she kept a firm lock on his little body. "Anna, don't!" he pleaded, but his pleas fell on deaf ears as she mashed his face against the sole of her left foot.

Despite being subjected to things like this many times, Chad had yet to build up a tolerance for it. The oily feeling of the grime, the pungent odor of stale sweat, and the bitterness that invaded his senses were still too much for him to take. Anna began raking him up and down along the bottom of her foot without mercy or care. His body was dragged face first over every fetid inch of Anna's foot. Chad was forced to suffer through Anna's blatant mistreatment. Struggling, squirming, and fighting did nothing but amuse Anna while she used him as a sponge to clean the filth from her foot. Chad tried to keep his mouth closed to avoid the familiar and foul taste, but the disgusting taste still managed to worm its way into his mouth. He coughed and gagged involuntarily, and the consequences were immediate as Anna's sweat assaulted his mouth.

Anna savored the feelings of power and control that she felt washing over her. She had said this was a lesson for Chad, and in many ways, it was, but she couldn't deny the rush this gave her. Something about having such a level of control over someone was unexplainable and enticing. She could feel Chad struggling in vain against her, but he was utterly at her mercy. Caught up in the waves of satisfaction, she slowed her torture down while maintaining her rough treatment. With the pace slowed to an almost crawl, Chad's struggles increased, and he bucked against her. This would teach him not to abuse her trust, this and what else she had in store. She closed her eyes when she felt him try to scream for mercy, and his voice reverberated against her foot. It was faint, but she could feel the slight vibrations from her little bug-toy.

As Chad's pace slowed to an agonizing rate, he grew more desperate for relief and freedom. He'd entered the den of a lioness willingly, but he'd severely underestimated the extent of Anna's wrath. This was too much. However, no amount of struggling and screaming would stop her. It was a morbid fact that he knew all too well. His only move was to endure until she thought he'd learned his lesson. The heel was his final hellish stop before she moved him to those dreaded toes. The calluses built up from her extracurricular athletic activities felt like sandpaper on his poor face. Anna brutally ground his body against her heel, rubbing him in a painful circular motion to scrub her feet clean. All he wanted was for the torment to end, but Anna was only beginning.

When she finally pulled him away from her rough skin, he was granted a brief reprieve before his nightmare resumed. The scent of her foot lingered in his nose, but an even more noxious stench soon replaced it. Without warning, Anna plunged his body into the crevice between her toes. She threaded him through at a vigorous and rapid rate. She'd only done this once before with him, the night so long ago when she'd stolen him away, and Chad felt sick to his stomach as she used him. A distinct layer of disgust came with the gunk littering the space between her toes. The heat and sweat burned Chad's eyes with every second he spent as living floss.

Revolted, Chad was forced through each space multiple times before Anna would move on. She took care to scrape his body up and down between each toe, much to his dismay. He'd given up on crying out; all it served was to earn him a mouthful of filth he didn't want. The thought alone of his predicament was horrific enough without the detriment of tasting it. One by one, Anna worked his body in and out without reprieve. It may have only been moments, but it felt like an eternity to him. Chad had made the mistake of forgetting just how cruel, and vindictive Anna could be. There was no stopping her, and the sad fact was that he was utterly powerless against her sadistic whims. However, knowing that this was just the beginning was worse.

The pinky toe was perhaps the worst experience. The space between was tighter, the grime was greater, and the heat was unbearable. As an added insult, Anna purposefully curled her toes around him as she drew closer to finishing. Chad had remained as quiet as he could until this. Such a simple action applied a crushing pressure to his body. Anna let go of him the second she curled her toes, and Chad could only howl in pain from his fleshy prison. He felt his body might snap in half, but his screams fell on deaf ears again. After an agonizing few moments, Anna roughly pulled him free from his prison.

Chad felt a rush of cool air as she freed him, but his body ached from his treatment. Anna brought him to her face for a second, but Chad couldn't bring himself to speak. Already, he was exhausted and felt broken. "You make a much better foot scrubber than father. You know that?" Anna asked in a mocking tone that further diminished his spirit, "Are you starting to get the picture, bug-boy? This is what happens when you screw with someone!"

"Anna, please," he forced himself to croak out, "I have been telling you the truth, I swear!"

"Keep telling yourself that, and maybe you'll start to believe your bullshit," Anna spat, "Let's get ready for round two, shall we, pipsqueak?"

Her words hurt almost as much as what she'd been subjecting him to. Chad had been patient and understanding with her, but in the wake of this punishment, he felt angry. However, his rage was worthless in the face of Anna's. She was too big, too powerful, and he may as well have been an ant next to a God. His punishment was as inescapable as it was unwarranted. Anna brought him to her right foot with her last question to begin his torture anew. The process may have been identical, but it didn't make it any more bearable for Chad. The pain and humiliation of being dragged along Anna's sole to clean her foot was indescribable. Without hope for salvation, he tried to blot out the coming events. Try as he might, though, there was nothing he could do to erase what was happening.

Anna was too busy relishing the feelings of domination and bliss from using Chad. She couldn't have been bothered to stop her torment, not that she would have. In her mind, Chad was getting what he, and every other lying scumbag, deserved. Her actions were justified, and those feelings brought her joy to new heights. She'd break him today if it were the last thing she did, and he would forever remember who was in charge now. She worked him just as she had on her left foot but with renewed vigor and excitement. It didn't matter that his struggles had died down. All that mattered was showing him who the boss was. Still, there was nothing wrong with applying a little more pressure. This was a punishment of his own design, and if he'd just done as he'd said, then none of this would have been happening.

Chad's torture continued, but his will was faltering. The weight of hopelessness was quickly sapping his strength. When Anna smashed him harder against her foot, it sparked another sporadic wave of resistance within him. Maybe it was the pain, perhaps it was the shame, but he found himself fighting against her yet again. It was in vain, but he couldn't stop himself from trying. Slow, steady, and with newfound force, Anna used him once more as a sweat rag for her foot. The will to fight came and went, and it wasn't long before he felt limp in her hand. All he wanted was for it to end, but that wasn't up to him. He was at Anna's mercy, and he doubted that she'd grant him any soon.

After what felt like another eternity, Anna once more brought him to her toes. Prayers for salvation went unheeded as she wordlessly began threading him through again. However, she made it a point to curl her toes each time she prepared to move him to the next. The pain was excruciating, and it was second only to his humiliation. Anna was ruthless in her torture, and all Chad could do was suffer in her hands. Every passing second was pure torture, and he wondered when it would end. Anna took her sweet time with each toe, and Chad felt utterly defeated when she reached the final toe. All he wanted was for it to end, but he had no idea what Anna was really planning.

Anna had felt Chad's resolve finally give. She doubted that he was utterly spent. Exhausted, sure, but she needed him drained for what she had in mind. She'd spent the better half of the last half hour abusing Chad, but that was the start of what she had in mind. She held out her hand and watched as he collapsed in her palm. "Having fun, pervert?" she asked, knowing he was miserable.

Chad lay on his stomach in Anna's palm. He pushed himself up into a sitting position and glared up at her. She was enjoying this. He knew she wanted him to break, but he wouldn't give her the satisfaction. He summoned his inner ‘Captain’ as he replied, "I can do this all day."

That struck a nerve with her. Chad watched as her cocky smirk fell into a menacing frown. He didn't care, not at this point. If she were to use him like this, he'd pick back at her. "Is that so?" she asked, slowly curling her hand into a fist, "That's good to hear, shrimp because we're just getting started."

"What are you going to do, Anna?" he asked, trying his best to suppress his fears and dread, "Sit on me? Eat me? You and I both know that your mom won't stand for this abuse."

"Are you threatening to snitch on me, runt?" Anna asked, "Choose your next words carefully, bug-boy."

"At this rate, I won't have to." he replied, "It's only a matter of time before you go too far."

"Who says I'm going to do anything else to you?" Anna countered, that spine-tingling grin returning to her face.

"What are you talking about?" Chad asked, his resolve wavering as the fear of the unknown crept in and took hold of him.

"Oh, I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise, Chad," Anna answered, closing her hand and bringing it to her face to whisper, "I guess you do deserve a hint, though. Let's just say I'm gonna give you exactly what you've been dreaming of."

Chad's heart fell into his stomach as his mind tried desperately to figure out what she meant. His dread turned to fear, leading to panic within the darkness of Anna's clenched fist. He thought he'd endured the worst, that he'd somehow be safe, but Anna had something else up her sleeve. His nerves and mind were in overdrive as he went through countless scenarios of horrific events. What did she mean what he wanted? His head spun as he tried to figure out her cryptic and vague message.

As if on cue, the doorbell downstairs chimed.

His world spun and shook as Anna repositioned herself. She kept her fist closed tight, so he couldn't see what was happening around him. Sounds from the outside were muted and muffled, but a few moments later he thought he heard Anna talking. "Hey, come on in." he heard her say in a much cheerier tone, "You got everything?"

Who was she talking to? What was Anna planning? Not knowing was killing him, and being unable to see only added to his sense of alarm. If he could just see something, anything, he could at least muster a guess at what was going on. The darkness gave way to claustrophobia, and Chad began a battle against his fear. He began to hyperventilate, and it wasn’t long before he lost the war against that terror. His panic got the better of him, and he tried to beat against the inside of Anna's fist. The only response he received came from Anna's brief yet rough squeeze.

When Anna heard the doorbell, she couldn't hide her excitement. She'd been planning this out for a week, and now Jessica was here. She greeted her strawberry blonde friend with a genuinely friendly welcome and looked Jessica over as subtly as possible. Jessica wore a tight-fitting white graphic t-shirt and a pair of slightly frayed and faded high-waisted jeans. On her feet were an almost ratty-looking pair of converse that Jessica mentioned were her oldest and most favorite pair. Her long strawberry locks were loose and fell around her curved face and pale skin. Looking at her, Anna almost lost sight of her plan until she felt Chad pounding against her fingers.

"Hey, Anna," Jessica replied, "Yep, I brought my books. How have you been holding up?"

"I'm managing," Anna replied, "I haven't really had time to do much except look out for my dumbass step-dad and step-brother."

"That's kind of what I meant," Jessica said, taking a seat on the edge of the bed, "My brother caught the virus too, and he's been getting into trouble almost every day. Whether it's getting stuck somewhere, falling between the cushions, or something else stupid and dangerous. I caught him in the sink last week after dinner. Mom forgot that he was on a plate, and she nearly drowned him while doing dishes."

"Sounds like Chad," Anna scoffed, giving her hand another squeeze, "At least Jeremy isn't out trying to use his size to be a pervert like most guys."

"That would be a sight," Jessica snorted, "My little brother is too scared to do anything like that. I swear he's afraid of his own shadow, and that was before he shrunk. I noticed you've been kind of standoffish at school, though. I was surprised when you texted me for help. I was beginning to think that you were avoiding me. You know, after what happened."

Anna's cheeks flushed a bit as Jessica reminded her of their brief kiss in the locker room. "I, um, I'm sorry about that," Anna said, shifting uncomfortably and looking away, "I was just, you know, caught off guard by it all. I didn't mean to make you think I didn't like you. N-not that I do, I mean I do, but I just-"

"Hey, take it easy," Jessica said softly, giving her a look that Anna couldn't quite read, "Don't get all up in your head, okay? I just meant that I was worried I'd pushed you away. I don't want to lose you as a friend if you don't feel the same way."

"I'm sorry," Anna sighed while tapping her foot and nervously clenching her fists, inadvertently causing Chad further pain and confusion, "I just…I didn't know how to process it, and I never really considered girls…. I still don't know, if I'm being honest."

"Well," Jessica began, setting her bookbag on the floor, "If you're curious, I'd be happy to give you some pointers. I did come by to help you study, but we never said what we'd be studying."

Anna could feel a lump forming in her throat. She tried to clear it, but her nerves continued to get the better of her, "I mean, uhm, I guess I wouldn't mind a few…tips."

In all her life, Anna couldn't recall a time when she was this anxious. Jessica leaned back on the bed and crossed her legs. "Oh yeah?" Jessica asked, a slight glint in her eyes, "Well, for starters, you're way too tense, know what I mean?"

Anna swallowed nervously as she tried to get a read on Jessica's body language. Why was she so nervous? She pushed her nerves down and tried to focus on what was about to happen. "I, uh, I think I know what you mean," Anna said, fumbling over her words and groaning, "God, I sound like an idiot."

Jessica flashed a smile and patted a space beside her, "Relax, Anna. It's okay to be nervous. We don't have to do anything if you don't want to."

"N-no, it's not that," Anna stammered out as she slowly sat down beside Jessica, "I've just, I mean, I've been with guys before, but never another girl. I just…I'm not sure what to actually do."

"Just relax and go with it," Jessica said sweetly, while sitting back up and scooting a hair closer to Anna, "I won't bite, not unless you want me to."

Anna took a deep breath just before Jessica leaned in and sealed her lips with hers. A wave of complicated emotions washed over Anna as the kiss went on. Excitement, jitters, and something almost carnal within her. Jessica's lips were softer than anything she'd experienced, and Anna tentatively invited her to deepen the kiss by opening her mouth ever-so-slightly. The girls closed their eyes and enjoyed the moment of intimacy. A whirlwind of new sensations crashed into and over Anna. Something about this felt right, and Anna wanted more. A hint of fear of ruining their friendship gave her pause, though. Was this worth it?

Jessica pulled away and rested her forehead against Anna's. "You okay?" she whispered, "We can stop if you want."

Anna bit her lip and shook her head, "No, I'll… let you know if it's too much."

"Alright," Jessica said, guiding Anna's hands slightly, "Just go with it, and tell me if we need to break, yeah?"

Anna nodded and was once again reminded of her captive. This was her chance.

Snaking her arms around Jessica's neck and slipped one of her hands into the back of Jessica's shirt. She took the initiative and kissed Jessica. The distraction worked perfectly, and she opened her hand holding Chad, the second her hand was inside Jessica's shirt. Her crush kept her eyes closed as they continued their make-out, remaining blissfully unaware of what Anna had done. With Chad successfully deposited, Anna was now free to enjoy the waves washing over her. Anna's mind slowly fell into a slight lustful haze, but she kept Chad's punishment in the back of her mind.

With her hands officially free, Anna pulled back slightly. Jessica rested her forehead against Anna's for a moment, "Having second thoughts?" she asked.

"No, just…a little unsure what to do," Anna admitted, her cheeks burning slightly.

"Do what feels right," Jessica said in a soothing voice, "Mind if I give you a demonstration?"

Anna shook her head and let Jessica take the lead. Jessica locked lips with Anna once again while she gently pushed Anna onto her back on the bed. Her hands found their way under Anna's shirt and Anna shivered as Jessica's hands slowly traced along her midsection. Her touch was almost electric, and Anna's back arched ever-so-slightly in response to new sensations. As Jessica's fingertips continued roaming the course of Anna's skin, Anna felt a carnal need building within her. However, her uncertainty and nervousness bled into hesitation. Anna inhaled sharply when Jessica's fingers found their way under her bra.

Jessica broke the kiss, but those soft, supple lips found their way to Anna's neckline. "Don't be scared," Jessica whispered, her breath tickling Anna's neck, "You can touch me. I'm not going to break. Let yourself go, Anna."

Anna couldn't bring herself to speak, but Jessica's words unleashed something inside her. A simple phrase broke the dam of Anna's inhibitions, and she found herself acting on impulse. Her hands began trailing up Jessica's back, under her shirt, and soaring back down. Jessica paused as the rough scratching sent a shockwave through her body. In response, Jessica nipped at Anna's neck, her teeth gently raking across her skin. Their breathing became slightly more labored as the passion continued to mount. Anna leaned up slightly to try to find Jessica's lips, and Jessica seized the opportunity to unhook Anna's bra without her knowing. Trepidation had gone out the window, and the two began exploring one another's bodies.

Anna felt her bra loosen, but she couldn't have been bothered to care. Her hands traveled lower, finding their way to Jessica's taunt backside. Anna gave a tentative squeeze, one hand on each cheek, which instantly garnered a reaction from Jessica. Jessica thrust herself closer to Anna. Anna, in turn, drew closer to Jessica. She felt something small in Jessica's jeans, and Anna smiled as their passions continued to rise. As exciting as this was, Anna still had another objective. Chad was somewhere in Jessica's jeans. Anna had to remember that this was more than just a chance to explore her curiosities; this was meant to be a punishment for Chad. She'd have to try to reign herself soon, but she could afford to indulge herself for now.

                                                          ---------------------------

Chad didn't know what was happening until it was too late. Anna's palm began sweating more profusely shortly after Jessica arrived, but Chad was still literally and figuratively in the dark. Silence followed the sweating, and what came next was yet another shift in his world. His body tumbled in Anna's palm as she repositioned him. A rush of air and the familiar feeling of free falling came next. He never got a look at either Anna or Jessica as he fell. He realized too little too late where he was, and Anna's plan was suddenly revealed. Her cryptic threat about her not doing anything had meant using her friend and crush as an unaware tormentor. Chad cried out as he fell down Jessica's back and rapidly descended towards her jeans. His screams once again fell on deaf ears, though, as Jessica and Anna continued their intimate and secret meeting.